Vehicle wheel



Nav. 15,

H. R. Hom/LAND 2,137,08@

VEHICLE WHEEL Filed May 3, 1938 Patented Nov. 15, 193s UNI-TED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels particularly useful for motor vehicles.

Among the main objects are to provide a construction to aiord proper predetermined re- 5 siliency and that will engage uneven or slippery road surfaces in such a manner as to reduce tendency to skid, and since it permits of the successful use of a tire of solid rubber or the like, it is notopen to the objection of being puncturabie. These and other advantages will appear to the mechanic skilledv in this art from a reading of the following specification and an examination of the accompanying drawing, in

which- A Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wheel embodying my invention and drawn on a small scale and being partly broken away to illustrate certain details;

Fig. 2 is a relatively enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a relatively enlarged, sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 'of Fig. 1 but showing the parts under load.

I represents a wheel disk having a central aperture to receive a wheel hub and brake drum of any well known construction. 'Ihe felly of the wheel com rises a plurality of deeply dished rings or ann li 2-3-4--5- These rings are nested together so that the transverse portions as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 will constitute a yielding and reacting support for the tire proper.

The bottom of these rings curve upwardly andinwardly in cross-section as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. The outer ring 2 is extended to overlie the outer edge of the disk I in such a 4manner that it may be rigidly fastened thereto as by a plurality of bolts 6. 'I'he extreme edges of the,

.rings 3-4-5 are united to the ring 2 by any suitable means or method such as welding, welds l-1 being conventionally shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 8 represents a solid tire of rubber or the like, which is secured in any well known manner to a yielding metallic ring 9, which is adapted to slide over the outermost ring 2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The ring 9 may be secured to the outer ring 2 in any suitable manner, but in this instance I have shown a piurality of equally spaced studs I0 for that Purpose. Welded to the inner side of the ring 9 is a nut II into which the threaded -end of the stud III may be screwed. The ring `2 has a passage of suicient size to' permit the stud I0 to be passed therethrough to be engaged with the nut II. The rings. 3-4-5 have enlarged passages which afford ample clearance around the stud I0 to permit a washer I2 to be inserted to bear against the inside of the ring 2. I3 is a nut which is threaded onto the 4stud III so that it may be turned down against the split ring washer I2 to iirmlyA hold the ring 9 to the ring 2.

All of the rings are made of spring steel andas viewed in Figs 2 and 3, it will be observed that the several rings 2-3-4'-5 are of less width so that said rings will overlap after the manner of a leaf spring. Any conventional mud guard may be applied, if desired, to cover the several stud ends to exclude dirt. Preferably, the threads on the stud which will eng-age the nut II are left-hand, while the threads for the nut I3 are right-hand. y

Operation- In Fig. 2 I have shown in crosssection approximately the predetermined position of the parts when there is no load on the wheel. `In Fig. 3 I have shown the position of the parts when load is applied. Inthe latter position it will be noted that the free edges of the several rings are sprung upwardly and inwardly at a point directly above the area of contact with the road. Under such condition, the opposite sides of these same rings in the position horizontal to the road will spring laterally and outwardly. As road inequalities are encountered, the lower free edges of the several felly rings will act and react in such a manner as to cause the tread of the tire 8 to follow said irregularities so as to properly grip the road to prevent skidding. Heretofore, yielding fellies have been provided, but in such instances the yielding supports act and react only in the plane of rotation of the wheel, whgareas in the present case spring action and reaction occurs not only inthe plane of the wheel but transversely thereto.

I claim: v 1. In a. vehicle wheel of the character described, a flexible felly comprising a plurality of deeply dished rings nested together, the outer ring forming a seat for a yielding tire tread, said rings yielding transversely of the plane of rotation of the wheel.

y 2. In a vehicle wheel of the character described, a iiexible felly comprising a plurality of deeply dished rings nested together, the outer ring forming a seat for a yielding tire tread, `said rings yielding transversely of the plane of rotation of the wheel, said rings being of successively less width so that each ring will only partially overlie its immediate supporting ring.

3. In al vehicle wheel of the character described, a flexible felly comprising a plurality of deeply dished rings nested together, the outer ring forming a seat for a yielding tire tread, said rings yielding transversely of the plane of rotation of the wheel, a removable tire element comprising a metallic spring ring carrying a flexible tire tread, and said spring ring having a plurality of nuts at its outer side, means for connecting the same to the'dished rings comprising studs in threaded engagement with said nuts, and clamping nuts on said.studs for engaging the inside of one oi.' said dished rings.

4. In a vehicle wheel of the character described, a iiexible felly comprising a plurality of deeply dished rings nested together, the outer ring forming a seat for a yielding tire tread. said rings yielding transversely of the plane of rotation of the wheel, a removable tire element comprising a metallic spring ring carrying a flexible tire tread, said spring ring having a plurality 

